Airplane wing structure



June 17, 1941. H. WAGNER ETAL I AIRPLANE wme STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 27, 1938 Fig.1

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June 17, 1941. H. WAGNER ETAL AIRPLANE WING STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 27, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 /n ventom; M r A June 17, 1941. N ET A I 2,246,116

AIRPLANE vmm s'rnucrurm Filed Oct. 27, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet s In ventons- June 17, 1941. H, WAG ER HAL 2,246,116'

' AIRPLANE WING STRUCTURE Filed on. 27, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lnventora fled? M7170 Patented June 17,1941

UNIT STAT ES" PATEN AIRPLANE wm'o STRUCTURE Herbert Wagner and Franz Villinger, Dessau, Germany, assignors to Junkers Flugzeug-und- Motorenwerke Aktiengesellschaft, Dessau, Germany, a corporation of Germany Application october 2.7, 1938, Serial No. 237,250 In Germany October 28, 1937 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in airplane wing structures, and refers to an im-,

proved form of construction wherein a main wing is provided with an auxiliary wing adjustably mounted thereon so that the depthfrom. front to rear-of the wing structure may be varied by moving the auxiliary wing rearwardly, and wherein simultaneously with this rearward movement the auxiliary wing is also turned to adownward and rearward inclination thereby changing the pitch of the wing. By pitch we mean the inclination of the underside of the wing inthe direction to the axis of the airplane propeller, or in other words, the angle of incidence.

In wing structures of this type which have been made heretofore it has been customary to number of given-distances from, and adjacent to, its rearmost position. v

A further object of the invention is .to provide a wing structure having the aforementioned characteristics and advantages which is light in weight, simple in construction, and easy to operate.

We will now proceed. to describe two preferred embodiments of .theinvention in detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram showing the relation between the rearward movement of the auxiliary utilize means for adjustably mounting the aux- ,iliary wing upon the main wing so that as the former is moved rearwardly it is also moved at a uniform speed to an ever increasing pitch or inclination in a downward and rearward direction, in other words as the auxiliary wing is moved rearwardly its pitch increases correspondingly. Thus when the auxiliary wing has been moved to its rearmost position its pitchis greatest, and the only way to lessen the pitch is to move the auxiliary wing in a forward direetion. However for both starting" and landing, while it is very desirable that the auxiliary wing be substantially in its rearmost position, different pitches are desirable. A lesser pitch is required for starting in order to afford lifting capacity with a minimum of wind resistance, while a greater pitch is better for'landin'g in order to provide both lifting and. braking cawing and its pitch.

Figure 2 is a. longitudinal section showing a main wing and an auxiliary wing adjustably mounted thereon; the latter being in its preferred position for starting, hereinafter referred to as its starting position.

Figure 3 is a partial inverted plan of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section similar to that shown in Figure 2, but with the auxiliary wing in its preferred position for landing, hereinafter referred to as its landing position.

Figure 5 is a partial inverted plan of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of a main wing and an auxiliary wing showing av modified means for supporting the latter adjustably from the former; the auxiliary wing being shown in pacity, the latter to decelerate the plane in as short a distance as possible.

It is an object of this invention to provide a wing'structure consisting of a main wing and an auxiliary wing wherein means are provided for adjustably supporting the latter so that through movement of the said means the wing is moved both rearwardly and also into an in-. cTined position to increase its pitch; and wherein the means are so arranged that the pitch is materially changed by only veryslight longitudinal movement of the auxiliary wing when the later is adjacent its rearmost position. Thus we aim to provide an arrangement whereby the most favorable pitches for both starting and landin may be obtained with .the auxiliary wing located adjacent its rearmost position.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a 'wing structure wherein the means for adjustably supporting the auxiliary wing from the main wing are so arranged that the auxiliary wing may be disposed at either of two inclinations, or pitches, when located at any one'of a starting position.

Figure '7 is a longitudinal section similar to Figure 6, but -with'the auxiliary wing in landing position.

Figure 8 is a detail, showing the pivot arm employed in the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7, partly in side elevation and partly in section.

Figure 9 is a front elevation of the pivot arm shown ln'Figure 8.

Figure 10 is an elevation of the same pivot arm in the direction of the arrow (1 in Figure 8; the normal flight position being shown at I, and the starting and landing positions being indicated at II and III respectively.

Figure 1 1 is a disassembled view,.partly in section, of the pivot arm used in the modification shown in Figures 6 and '7, and the universal joint mounted upon the auxiliary wing, and their inclination to one another when in normal flight.

Figure 12 is a disassembled view, partly in section, similar to that shown in Figure 11, but with the pivot arm and universal joint in the relative positions they assume when the auxiliary wing is in starting position.

Figure 13 is another disassembled view, partly in section, similar to that shown in Figure 11, but showing the relative positions of the pivot arm and universal joint when the auxiliary wing is in landing position.

Referring first to Figures 2 to 5. l designates a main wing having a recess 3 formed transversely in its rear side to receive the auxiliary wing 2 when the latter is in its normal flying position indicated at 2a in Figures 2 and 4. Supported in suitable bearings So on the main wing l, and in transverse alignment with one another, are a plurality of pins which, in the present instance,

are downwardly and forwardly inclined. Mount-- ed for rotation upon each pin 5 is a pivot arm 4; these arms lie in the positions indicated at 4a when the auxiliary wing 2 is located at its position 2a for normal flight. At the outer extremity of each pivot arm 4 a pin I4 is rotatably mounted therein and forms a portion of a universal joint 6 connected also to the auxiliary wing 2. The pivot arms 4, which may be turned about their pins 5 in any preferred manner (not shown). are parallel to one another in all positions and retain the front transverse margin of the auxiliary wing 2 in parallel relation with the opposed transverse face of the recess 3 in the main wing I.

Formed on each pivot arm 4 intermediately of its length is a laterally disposed boss 1 to which one extremity of a link 9 is connected by means of a universal connection 8. A second universal connection In on the opposite extremity of each link 9 is also secured to a lug II which projects from and is rigidly connected to the auxiliary .wing 2 and extends beneath the universal joint '6.

Each pin l4, which is rotatably mounted in one extremity of one of the pivot arms 4, pivotally secures the latter to the body 6a of one universal joint 6, and another pin l3 which pro jects from each body 6a is rotatably mounted in a bracket l3a secured to the auxiliary wing 2.

It will therefore be seen that as the pivot arms 4 turn about the pins 5 from their normal flight positions 4a in the direction of the arrows I5, the distance between the axes of the pins 5 and the axes of the universal connection ill reduces, and, since the lugs II are located beneath the universal joints 6 it follows that the pitch of the auxiliary wing 2 increases. Moreover this reduction in distance occurs with increasing rapidity as the pivot arms 4 approach and cross their rear positions, that is when they lie at right angles to the opopsed transverse faces of the recess 3 and the auxiliary wing 2. Again this reduction in distance continues to occur after the pivot arms 4 have passed their rear positions, as above defined, and consequently two entirely different pitches are obtained with the rods 4 on opposite sides of, but at the same inclination to, their said rear positions.

Referring both to the diagram shown in Figure 1 and also to Figures 2 and 4, the line (1 in Figcreased uniforml with the rearward movement of the auxiliary wing, from which it may be seen that such'variations of pitch as now occur could not be obtained with the wing in substantially its rear position.

In the modified arrangement shown in Figures 6 to 13, and now to be described, the diagram given in Figure 1 also applies though the movement is obtained by a somewhat varied arrangement.

The auxiliary wing 20 is again supported from the main wing lc by pivot arms 40 each mounted for rotation about a fixed axis 5d upon a pin 50 supported upon the said main wing. When the wing 20 is in normal flight position 2d it is located in the recess 30. The extremities of the pivot arms 40 remote from the pins 50 are also again connected to the auxiliary wing 20 by universal joints 6c.

Each universal joint 60 consists of a pin I4c which is rotatably mounted in one extremities ure 1 denotes the increase in pitch as thewing 2 is moved rearwardly in the direction of'the arrow [5 from its normal flight position and again forwardly past the defined rear positions of the pivot arms 4. With the aid of the diagram it becomes readily apparent that in starting position, shown in Figures 2 and 3 and at P1 in the diagram, the distance h which the auxiliary wing 2 has been moved rearwardly is the same as the distance h in Figures 4 and 5 when the said wing 2 is in landing position. However, due to the fact that the pivot arms 4 have moved past their rear positions, as defined, in the latter case the pitch has become the angle (12 whereas in the starting position the pitch was only the angle a1. P2 in the diagram denotes the landing position on the pitch increase line d. The purpose of the line d1 on the diagram is to illustrate a rate of ofone of the pivot arms 4c. This pin [40 projects through a body 6d from which a second pin I30 extends, and the latter is rotatably mounted in a bearing I3d carried by the auxiliary wing 20. The axis of the pin I30 is supported by its bearing substantially in alignment with a chord of the auxiliary wing profile extending from the front towards the rear of the latter.

In the side elevation of one of the pivot arms 40 shown in Figure 8 it is shown that the axes 5d and [4d are inclined to one another at an angle 'y, and also from the front elevation of one of the pivot arms shown in Figure 9 it is apparent that in a second plane these axes 5d and [4d are inclined at an angle 5. Due to the compound angle formed by the angles 7 and B these two axes 5d and I4d never intersect, and in consequence as the arms 4c turn about their axes 5d the resultant increasing pitch follows the curved path d shown in the diagram (Figure 1). The resultant action of the compound angle above described causes the outer extremity of the pivot arm 4c and the pin l4c shownin Figures 11, 12 and 13 to assume their positions therein shown and thereby turn the pin l3cdownwardly and rearwardly as the said arm swings from its normal flight position shown in Figure 11. Figure 10 also shows the pivot arm 40 in normal flight position I, and also indicates the position of the arm in both starting and landing positions indicated at II and III respectively. From the above it becomes apparent that the pitch angles 0:1 and 012 are again both obtained with the auxiliary wing 20 located the distance if from its normal flight position 2d.

While in the foregoing the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and shown it is understood that further alterations and modifications may be made therein so long as the said alterations and modifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is: v

1. An airplane wing structure comprising a main wing, an auxiliary wing adapted to be moved rearwardly therefrom, a plurality of arms each pivoted at one extremity on the main wing, a pin extending through the opposite extremity of each said rear position is, reached continues to increase I the pitchoi the auxiliary wing.- r

2. An airplane wing structure comprising .a

main wing having a recess formed in its rear side,

an auxiliary wing adapted to rest in said recess carried by the pivot arm, a link, and a universal connection on each extremity of the link, one of said connections being secured to said boss and the other to said'lug. i

6. A wing structure comprising the combination of a main wing an auxiliary wing, the latter being connected to the main wing by a pivot arm, said'pivot arm being movable beyond its position rectangular relative to the trailing edge of the mainwing, and means for continuously varying in the same direction the angle of incidence or pitch oi the auxiliary wing during and to be moved rearwardly therefrom, pivot,

ally mounted at one extremity-on each pivot arms mounted on the main wing. an .arm pivot-,

means, a pin extending through'the opposite extremity of each arm, a body through which each theentire movement of the pivot arm. 4

7; Wing structure comprising a main wing, parallel arms independently pivoted to the main wing for swinging movement across transverse wing. axes passing through the respective pivot pin extends for rotary movement'therein, another? I pin extending from each body and integral therewith, and a bearing on the auxiliary wing in which each other pin is rotatably'mounted.

the axes oi thepivot means at one extremity of each arm and of the pin extending through the opposite extremity of the latter being angularly H vdisposed to one another in two directions sothat the said axes when produced never intersect, and

whereby pivotal movement 01' the arms moving permitting said auxiliary wing to be set at two different pitches at the same rearward distance from the mainwing. J '1 3. An airplane wingstructure comprising-a "main wing, an auxiliary wing-adaptedto be moved rearwardly relative thereto, a pivot arm,

means on the mainwing supporting the pivot the auxiliary wing from;said recess increases the pitchof the auxiliary wing both until the rear i 7 position of the latter has been reachedand after "the said rear position hasbeen passed, thereby points, an auxiliary wing connected to the free ends of said arms foruniversal movement there- 'about and means connecting said arms and said auxiliary wing so constructed and arranged that movement of said arms in one direction varies the angle of incidence of said auxiliary wing continuously in the same direction throughout the entire arc ofswinging movement of said a. Ari-airplane wing structure comp sing a main wing, an auxiliary wing. adapted to be moved rearwardly with reference thereto, a pivot arm, means on the main w'ing'supporting the pivot arm for rotation about a fixed axis, 'uni-' versal joints connecting the'pivot arm with the auxiliary wing, and control means extending I" rom said arm to the auxiliary wing and conted through a universal Joint to the latter at a point spaced laterally from the pivotal-connection between sai -'arm ,and'auxiliary wing whereby movement 0 said pivot arm past its arm tor-rotation about a fixed axismeans connecting said pivot arm to said auxiliary wing,

, 4'0 and angular control means connected to said,

pivot arm and to said auxiliary wing whereby the pitch of the latter is increased as said pivot arm 7 is moved rearwardly to and through itsposition' rectangular of the 'trailing edge of the main.-

"vary the pitch thereof.

rearmost position obtains continued movement of the auxiliary wing 9.'An airplane wing structure comprising a qmain wing, an auxiliary wingv adapted to be moved rearwardly with reference thereto, pivot wing so that the auxiliary wing maybe-setat main wing having a recess iornidinf'itsjear side, an auxiliary wing adapted to restjin' said" recess and to be moved rearwardly'-.therefinm.;" transversely aligned pivot means .o'ntheL-main wing. Divot arms'mounted thereon which remaim parallel to one another at all-times," an angular two different pitches at the samereai'wa'rd dis- Jtance irom'themainwing. 4. An airplane wing structure comprising a arms, means on the main wing supportingv the pivot arms for rotation about fixed axes, universal joints connecting the pivot arms with the auxiliary wing, andmeans; associated with each ;arm-and'theiauxiliary wing cooperable on con- 'tiiiuous movement of said arms in the same direction to obtain continuous movement of said control means connecting said arms to the aux- 'iliary wing whereby the pitch of the-latter is progressively increasedas said auxiliary wingis moved from said'recess' by movementjoifthe pivot arms until theauidliarywing reachesits rear position, and whereby upon continued movement f aauxiliaryiwing about an axis parallel to its longitudinal edge and therebyvary the pitch of said auxiliary wing'during the entire swinging movement of said arms.

l0. An airplane wing structure comprising'a .ma'm wing, arms pivotedthereon ior swinging throughrsubstantially 180 degrees about aligned .yaxes, an auxiliary wing, means connecting said to; universal oi the pivot the pitch continues to I after said rear passed.

' 5. An airplane wing structure comprising a main wing, an auxiliary-wing adapted-Ito be moved rearwardly relative thereto, a pivot arm,

v'auxiliiitry wing to the free ends of said arms ior v ovement with reference thereto. and means associated with each'arm cooperable with theuniversalmounting of the auxiliary wing means on the main wing supporting the pivot arm for rotation about a flx'ed axis. a universal joint connecting the pivot arm with, the auxiliary wing, and angular control mechanism for said universal joint comprising a fixed lug extending from the auxiliary wing, a laterally disposed boss thereon to continuously rotate said auxiliary wing in the same direction about an axis parallel to its longitudinal .a'xis throughout the entire swinging i'movement of said arms whereby the pitch of said auxiliary wing is varied contimi,

ously in one direction during movement ofthe pivot. arms in one direction. 7

' I a HERBERTWAGNER.

FRANZ VILLINGER.

in the same direction to 

